Some famous names worked on Chambers's Encyclopaedia

Walter Crane (1845 – 1915), was one of the most influential and prolific English artists and book illustrators. When one thinks of the Golden Age of Victorian children's books, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one thinks of him. In his autobiography, An Artist's Reminiscences (New York: Macmillan, 1907) Crane mentions that very early in his career he was commissioned to make illustrations for the first edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia. The image here is from my copy of Crane's The Baby's Opera, given to me this Valentine's day.

William Morris (1834 – 1896) English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist most associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement, wrote the article for glass staining in the second edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia. At the NLS, there is a large album with most photos of the contributors that was presented to the second edition's editor, David Patrick.

Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809 – 1894) was an American physician, polymath, and poet (a member of the Fireside Poets) wrote the article on `Ralph Waldo Emerson' and the transcendental movement in the US for the second edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia. As there was no Berne Convention at this time, J.B. Lippincott and W. & R. Chambers strategy to protect their joint copyright on both sides of the Atlantic included commissioning American writers as well as British ones and claiming copyright protection for it.